Drive for printing machines



Dec. 21,1937. F LAMATSCH DRTVF] FOR YRTNTINI: MACHTNFS Filed Feb, 26. 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTDW.

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Dec. 21,- 1937. F. LAMATSCH DRIVE FOR PR INTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 26, 1934 5 Sheets-Shqet 2 9w n 0 lull haw. H E 0% mm ||l|| n mm M III M W R H W M 9 I U .lJlT Q m {ullLl \Q H T f m m filLr MN RN IWWMMW Ill 7 o\ h NI .WN

, w R n m T u 1 I g. N w 1| E F v N ll QQ V II Ni .WQ J T mm H. H l 7 4K1 @Hwn 9w mm Om MN I M m \N I? F. L .AMATSCH 2,102,631 DRIVE FOR PRINTING MACHINES Dec. 21, 1937.

Fil ed Feb 26, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 'INY'ENTOR."

Dec. 21, 1937. F. LAMATSCH DRIVE FOR PRINTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 26, 1954 INVENTORQ A-r-IY.

F. LAMATSCH Dec. 21, 1937.

DRIVE FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 26, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IHI INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 21, 1937 DRIVE roa PRINTING MACHINES Frederick Lamatsch, Grantwood, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to R. Hoe & 60., Inc., lIew York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 26, 1934, Serial No.- 713,058

18 Claim.

This invention relates to certain improvements in printing machines, and more particularly to the drive mechanism therefor.

' Web printing machines have been heretofore driven through the intermediation of various instrumentalities, such as gears, chains, belts and the like, from any suitable source of power, usually an electric motor or motors. Gears are more frequently employedto drive printing machines, and these gears are usually positioned at both sides of the printing machine, or each unit thereof, or at the opposed terminals of the printing cylinder shafts. In some instances, the power is imparted to the machine, or each unit thereof, at one side, and then'transmitted through a shaft or shafts to the opposed side of the machine where the components of the press, or each unit thereof, are synchronized or driven in predetermined relationship through intermeshing gears. In other types of printing machines, certain operative components are driven by gears positioned at one side of the machine, and other components driven by gears positioned at the opposed side, and in these arrangements the power is transmitted across'the machine through drive shafts, thereby subjecting these shafts to tortional stresses and strains. The machine in performing its intended functions encounters varying resistances, or fluctuating operating loads, and the powertransmitting shafts which extend entirely or partly across the machine being, as explained, subjected to tortional stresses tend to set up vibration as these tortional stresses are suddenly increased and diminished in conformity with the increase or decrease of the operating loads.

Where power is imparted to one side of the machine and then transmitted through relatively long shafts to operating components positioned on the opposed side of the machine, the tortional strain or twist of each shaft causes minute desynchronization of the immediate operating component, and when power is carried through a number of shafts the aggregate effect 01' these tortional strains produce desynchronizating movement of sufilcient amplitude to effect register, and e'speciallywhen superposed printing is being produced.

Furthermore, the tortional twist of the power transmitting shafts tend to whip the intermeshing gears when load fluctuations incident to the normal operation of rotary web printing machines of the newspaper type and the like occur, thereby causing fgear streaks which are manitested in the production of contrasting bands or zones of relatively light or dark printing which extend longitudinally of the printing cylinders. This gear whipping action caused by the tortional strain or twist of the power transmittingshafts also causes the affected gears to wear, thus producing lost motion or backlash, which, in turn,

Y each unit are operably positioned at one side of the unit, and the drive for the units geared directly to one of the synchronizing gears of the printing cylinders.

' Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel drive for a rotary web printing machine, in which the drive and synchronizing gears for each printing unit are located at one side of the machine and directly intermeshed,

' components of the drive being constructed and arranged for movement to and from operative engagement in order to effect the reversal of operating direction of a selected printing couple in a printing unit.

It is also an object of this invention to provide in a rotary web printing machine, a drive and synchronizing gear arrangement of generally improved construction, whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction,,as well as conveniently accessible, practical, serviceable'and efilcient in its use.

With these and other objects not specifically referred to in view, the invention consists in certain novel parts, arrangements and combina- I tions, which will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and the novel features pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

For a complete disclosure of the invention, a detailed, description of a preferred form and modifications of the drive for rotary web printing machines will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a printing machine, depicting two printing units and a folder in line and showing the novel drive applied to each unit, the web leads being arranged to print two perfected webs;

Figure 2 is a similar view. but depicting one of the printing units with a printing couple operating in reverse direction, and a common web lead through both printing units;

Figure 3 is a fragmental plan view, parts anpearing in section, showing the drive arrangement in an operating position depicted'in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a similar view, but showing the components of the drive arranged in the operating position shown in the unit at the left of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of a modified drive arrangement;

Figure 6 is a similar view depicting a further. modification;

Figure 'l is a fragmental plan view, parts appearing in section, of the drive arrangement disclosed in Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a similar view of the drive arrangement shown in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, the invention is shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 as applied to a printing machine including two printing units and a folder in line. The first printing unit is indicated at A, the second at B and the folder at 0. Each unit includes two printing couples D and E, and each couple comprises a plate or form cylinder I0 and cooperating impression cylinder These cylinders are operably supported in bearings l5, carried in the usual unit frames "5. Each unit is provided with a drive shaft l8 operably supported by the frame in any preferred manner, not shown, and each shaft is provided with a bevel gear l9 whichmeshes with a similar bevel gear 2| secured to or formed as a part of a helical gear 22. In the type of drive depicted in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the bevel gear 2| and helical gear 22 are operably supported on a short shaft or stud 2'3 suitably secured to the unit frame l6, and the gear 22 meshes at one side with a broad helical gear 24 carriedby the shaft or trunnion 25 of the form cylinder IU of the printing couple E, and the gear 24, in turn, meshes with a helical gear 21 secured to the shaft or trunnion 28 of the impression cylinder ll of the printing couple E. When the unit is arranged as depicted at A in Figures 1 and 2, and in Figure 3, the gear 22 meshes at its opposed side with a helical gear 38 secured to the shaft or trunnion 3| of the impression cylinder H of the couple D, and this gear 30 meshes with a similar gear 32 secured to the shaft or trunnion 33 of the plate cylinder I0 of the couple D.

By this arrangement, the power is transmitted from any suitable source, not shown, through the shaft I8, drive gear l9, gears 2|, 22 and 24 to the plate cylinder of the perfecting couple E, and this cylinder is synchronized with its cooperating impression cylinder through the intermeshing gear 21. The first printing couple D is driven through gears 22 and 3D, and the plate and impression cylinders l0 and H of this couple are synchronized through gears 38 and 32. With this arrangement the web W is ledthrough the unit by suitable guide rollers 35 to perfect the web and finally to the folder (7.

In the arrangement of the printing unit depicted at B in Figures 1 and 2, and in Figure 4, the gears described in connection with the unit A are employed, but in order to provide means for reversing the direction of rotation of one of the printing couples, idler gears are operably interposed between the gear 22 and the gear 38 of the impression cylinder ll of the printing couple D. A shaft or stud 31 is secured to the frame It of the unit B, and a sleeve 38 is rotatably mounted thereon, the sleeve being held against longitudinal motion relativeto the stud 31 between a terminal washer or member 39' and the bearing boss 40 formed on the stud 31. A helical idler gear 42 is secured to the inner terminal of sleeve 38 and rotates therewith, and a second helical idler gear 44 is slidably mounted on the sleeve 38, and is secured against rotary motion relative thereto by a suitable key or feather 45. In this arrangement, the gears 30 and 32 are slidably mounted on the trunnions 3| and 33 of the form and impression cylinders l0 and H of the couple D, and these gears are held against rotary motion relative to their trunnions by suitable keys orsplines 41. These gears are limited in 7 their outward sliding motion by rings or washers 48 secured to the outer terminals of the trunnions 3| and 33, and their inward sliding motion is limited by the bearing IS in the frame l6. When it is desired to change the direction of rotation of the. printing couple D, the gears 30 and 32 are slid towards the frame l6 where the gear 30 meshes with the idler 42. The idler 44 is moved inwardly on its supporting sleeve 38 and meshes with the.

gear 22. The gears are locked in position by any suitable means, such as set screws 50, and in this position power is imparted through the shaft 8, bevel gears I9 and 2| and gears 22, 24 and 21 to impart rotation in a given direction to the printing couple E, as indicated by the arrows, and the printing couple D is driven in opposed direction through the gears 22, idlers 44 and 42, gears 38 and 32.

With this arrangement, the web W is first le through the unit A where it is perfected, and then over guide rollers 35 to a slitter 52, and then through the unit B, where two additional colors are printing on one side of the 'web, thus producing a web having one color printed on one side thereof, and three colors on the opposed side. In order to insure registration as the additional colors are superposed, the ribbons from the slit Web W are guided over spaced guide rolls 35', thus compensating for the stagger of the form plates. a I

Thus it is manifest from the foregoing, that in perfecting units where reversal of direction of its components is not desired, the interposed idlers are not provided, but in units where reversal of direction of one of its couples is desired, the interposed idlers are provided and may be operably associated with the other components of the gear train without changing the components.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figures 5 and '7, a printing machine is disclosed which includes the usual supporting frame or structure 54-supporting the unit frames 55 and the folder framing 56. Each printing unit is provided with two printing couples D and E, and each couple comprises a form or plate cylinder and impression cylinder II. The cylinders I8 and H are mounted in suitable bearings 51 supported in the unit frames 55, and suitable gears 58 and 59 are secured to the trunnions 60 of the cylinders l0 and II, thereby tying these cylinders together to insure that they operate in synchronism. Each gear 58 has a bevel gear 62 formed integral therewith or suitably secured thereto, as

. indicated at 83 in Figure 7, and these gears are adapted to mesh with suitable drives to be hereinafter disclosed.

In the construction disclosed, two superposed lines of units are provided, and drive shafts 65 and 66 are operably supported in the machine framing. These shafts may be driven, from any suitable source of power, usually an electric mo tor or motors, and the lower shaft 65 is operably connected to the upper shaft through the intermediation of vertical shafts 61 and suitable bevel gears 68 and 69. Each of the shafts 65 and 66 drive a plurality of units in line, and for each unit there is provided four bevel gears 10, ll, 12 and l3 arrange d to be moved to and from operable engagement with the gears 62. The gears 10, ll, 12 and I3 are slidably mounted on the shafts 65 and. 66, and held against rotation relative thereto by means of suitable keysor splines 15. By this arrangement, these gears may be moved to and from mesh relation with the bevel gear 62, and any suitable means, not shown, may

be employed to secure the gears to the shafts in I the selected positions.

upwardly through its couple D, and finally to the When it is desired to run a unit of this type V as an ordinary perfecting unit, the gears 10 and 13 .are moved from engagement with the gears 62, and the gears H and 12 moved in mesh therewith, and, when sodriven, the web W is led through the unit F, as indicated, and guided to' the folder 14 by suitable guide rollers 15 and over the former I6, former rollers 11 and nipping rollers 18. When the web is thus run, it is perfected or printed on both sides, and, if another type of run is desired, this may be readily produced by merely changing the drive gears III, H, 12 and 13 to produce the drive arrangement desired. 1 I

In this arrangement another web W is led over suitable guide rollers 15 down between the printing couple D of the printing unit G, and up through the printing couple E of the same unit, and then upwardly through couple E of unit H,

and down through couple D of this unit, and.

then down through the couple E of unit I, and

folder 14. By this flexible arrangement, any desired color combination can be produced, and in the present run, four colors are printed on one side of the web and two colors on the other.

In the arrangement depicted in unit G, the gears 10 and 72 are in mesh with the gears 62, and the gears II and I3 moved from operable engagement therewith. In the unit H, gears II and 13 are meshing with. .the gears 62, and the gears 10 and 12 moved away from meshing relationship,

andin unit I the gears 10 and [2 are moved into operable relationship with the gears 62, and the gears H and 13 moved from operable engagement.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figures 6 and 8, an idler is rotatably mounted on a stud or shaft 8|, secured to the unit frame 55,

and this gear is movable longitudinally on the shaft to and from operable engagement with the gears 59 of the impression cylinders ll.- In this arrangement, only two drive gears are provided for each unit, and these gears 84 and may be operably positioned on the shafts 65 and 66 at the outside of the gears 62 of each unit, as indicated in units K and L of Figure 6, or, if preferred, similar gears 84' and 85 may be positioned intermediate the gears 62, as shown in units J and M of Figure 6.

If it is desired to run the unitto perfect a newspaper web, the gear 80 is moved from mesh meshing synchronizing relation with the gears 59, and slid along its shaft 8| until it engages the frame 55, where it may be held by any suitable instrumentalities, not shown, in inoperative position, and the gears 84' and 85 are then moved into operable engagement with the gears 62, as shown in unit J of Figure 6, The web W is then led through the unit J, where it is perfected, and finally led to the folder 14. Another web W is led through the units K, L, and M and to the folder l4, and in passingthrough these units four colors may be printed on one side and two on the other. In the arrangement depicted in unit K, the gear 84 is moved into mesh relation with a gear 62, and the idler 80 is moved into operable engagement with the gears 59 of the impression cylinders H, and the gear 85 moved from engagement with its cooperating gear 62. In the arrangement depicted in unit L, the gear 85 is moved into mesh with its cooperating gear 62 and the gear 84 is moved away from operable engagement with its gear 62, as indicated, the idler 80 remaining in operable position. In the run in'dicated in unit M, the gear 85' is moved into engagement with its cooperating gear 62, and the gear 84' moved away from operable engagement with its gear 62, as shown.

plicant has produced a novel drive arrangement in which all of the synchronizing gears and drive gears are positioned at one side of the machine and directly intermeshing without the intervention of transversely extending drive shafts, and, at the same time, provides unusual flexibility permitting any desired web run with maximum convenience.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful in the art, is:-

'1. In a web printing unit including a plurality. of printing couples, each couple comprising a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, intergears for operably synchronizing the cylinders of each printing couple, a rotatable member including a drive gear and a synchronizing gear, the synchronizing gear of the rotatable member meshing directly with a synchronizing gear of each pri'nting'couple to operably synchronize all the cylinders of the printing unit, and a drive gear meshing directly with the drive gear of the rotatable member, the drive and synchronizing gears being located at one side of the printing unit.

2. In a web printing machine including a plurality of printing units, each unit comprising a couple having a form cylinder and an impression .cylinder, intermeshing synchronizing gears for operably synchronizing the cylinders of each printing couple, a rotatable member for each printing unit and having a drive gear and a synchronizing gear, the synchronizing gear of each rotatable member meshing directly with a synchronizing gear of each printing couple to operably synchronize all the cylinders of each printing unit, and a drive gear for each printing unit meshing directly with the drive gear of each rotatable member, the drive and synchronizing gearsof all the units being located at one side of the printing machine.

3. In a web printing unit including a plurality of printing couples,'each couple comprising a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, intermeshing synchronizing gears for operably synchronizing the cylinders of each printing couple,

a rotatable member having a drive gear and a.

synchronizing gear, the synchronizing gear of the rotatable member meshing directly with a synchronizing gear of each printing couple when the couples are driven in certain directions to operably synchronize all the cylinders of the printing unit, a drive gear meshing directly with the drive gear of the rotatable member, idler gears, certain of the idler gears and synchronizing gears being movably mounted for meshing engagement to thereby change the direction of rotation of a selected printing couple, the drive and synchronizing gears being located at one side of the unit.

4. In a web printing machine including a plurality of printing units, each unit comprising a plurality of printing couples and each couple including a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, intermeshing synchronizing gears for operably synchronizing the cylinders of each printing couple, a rotatable member for each printing unit and having a drive gear and a synchronizing gear, the synchronizing gear of each rotatable member meshing directly with a synchronizing gear of each printing couple of a printing unit when the couples are driven in certain directions to operably synchronize all the cylinders of each printing unit, a drive gear for each printing unit meshing directly with the drive gear of each rotatable member, idler gears, certain of the-idler gears and synchronizing gears being movably mounted for meshing engagement to thereby change the direction of rotation of selected printing couples, all the drive and synchronizing gears being located at one side of the machine.

5. In a web printing unit including two printing couples, each couple comprising a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, intermeshing synchronizing gears operably secured to the cylinders at one side of the unit for operably synchronizing the cylinders of each printing couple, a rotatable member having a drive gear and a synchronizing gear, the synchronizing gear of the rotatable member meshing directly with a synchronizing gear of each printing couple when the couples are driven in certain directions to operably synchronize all the cylinders of the printing unit, 'a drive shaft located at one side of the unit adjacent the synchronizing gears, a drive gear secured to theshaft and meshing directly with the drive gear of the rotatable member, idler gears, certain of the idler gears and synchronizing gears being movably mounted for meshing engagement to thereby change the direction of rotation of the selected printing couple.

6. In a web printing machine including a plurality of print-ing units, each printing unit including two printing couples and each printing couple including a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, intermeshing synchronizing gears operably secured to the cylinders at one side of the machine for operably synchronizing the cylinders of each printing couple, a rotatable member for each printing unit and having a drive gear and a synchronizing gear, the synchronizing gear of each rotatable member meshing directly with a synchronizing gear of each printing couple when the couples are driven in certain directions to operably synchronize all the cylinders of each printing unit, a drive shaft located at the side of the machine adjacent the synchronizing gears, drive gears secured to the shaft and each drive gear meshing directly with the drive gear of each rotatable member, idler gears, certain of the idler gears and synchronizing gears being movably mounted for meshing engagement to thereby change the direction of rotation of the selected printing couples.

'7. In a web printing unit including a plurality of printing couples, each printing couple coming gear, the synchronizing gear of the rotatable.

member meshing directly with a synchronizing gear of each printing couple when the couples are driven in certain directions to operably synchronize all the cylinders of the printing unit, a drive gear meshing with the drive gear of the rotatable member, an idler gear operably mounted in fixed axial position, an idler gear operably mounted for axial movement and rotatable with the fixed idler gear, and means for operably mounting certain of the synchronizing gears for axial movement, the idler gears and certain of the synchronizing gears intermeshing to change the direction of rotation of a selected couple.

8. In a web printing unit including separate printing couples, each couple comprising a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, intermeshing gears carried by the cylinders at one side of the unit to synchronize the rotation of the cylinders, a common gear adapted to mesh with a gear of each printing couple to rotate the cylinders in given directions, idler gears mounted for rotation and movable from an idler position to a position'where they are operably interposed between the common gear and a gear of one of the printing couples to reverse the direction of rotation of this couple.

9. In a web printing unit including separate printing couples, each couple comprising a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, intermeshing gears, supported by the cylinders at one side of the unit to synchronize the rotation of the cylinders, a common gear adapted to mesh with a gear of each printing couple to rotate the cylinders in given directions, idler gears operably supported at the side of the unit adjacent the synchronizing gears, one (if the idler gears and the synchronizing gears of a printing couple being moveable on their supports to operably interpose the idlers between the common gear and said couple to reverse the direction of rotation of the couple.

10. In a web printing machine including sepa- 1 rate printing units, each unit comprising separate printing couples and each couple including a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, intermeshing gears carried by the cylinders at one side of each unit to synchronize the rotation of the cylinders, a common gear adapted to mesh with a gear of each printing couple to rotate the cylinders in given directions, idler gears mounted for rotation and movable from an idler position to a position where they are operably interposed between the common gear and the gear of one of the printing couples of a printing unit to reverse the direction of rotation of the said couple to permit a common web to be led through more than one printing unit.

11. In a web printing machine including separate printing units, each unit comprising separate printing couples and each couple including a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, intermeshing gears supported by the cylinders at one side of the machine to synchronize the rotation of the cylinders, a common gear adapted to mesh with a gear of each couple of each printing unit to rotate the cylinders in given directions, idler gears operably supported at the side of selected units and adjacent the synchronizing gears, one of the idler gears and the synchronizing gears of a selected printing couple being cylinder and a rotatable impression cylinder, in-

termeshing synchronizing gears secured to the cylinders at one side of the unit to synchronize the rotation of the cylinders of each couple, a composite rotatable member for each couple including a drive gear and one of the synchronizing gears, a drive shaft at the side of the unit adjacent the synchronizing gears, opposed movable drive gears for each couple operably supported by the shaft, said gears being selectively movable to and from operable engagement with the drive gears of the composite rotatable members of the couples to control the direction of rotation of the cylinders of the couples.

13. In a web printing machine including separate printing units, each unit comprising two printing couples located immediately adjacent each other and each couple having a rotatable form cylinder and a rotatable impression cylinder, intermeshing synchronizing gears carried by the cylinders at one side of the machine to synchronize' the rotation of the cylinders of each couple, a drive shaft common to the separate units and positioned at the side of the machine adjacent the synchronizing gears, a composite rotatable member for each couple including a drive gear and one of the synchronizing gears, opposed movable drive gears for each couple of each unit operably supported by the shaft, said gears being selectively movable to and from operable engagement with the drive gears of the composite rotatable members to control the direction of rotation of the cylinders of the couples.

14. In a web printing unit including two couples located immediately adjacent each other, each couple comprising a rotatable form cylinder and a rotatable impression cylinder, intermeshing synchronizing gears carried by the cylinders at one side of the unit to synchronize the rotation of the cylinders of the couples, an idler synchronizing gear operably supported at the side of the unit and meshing with a synchronizing gear of each couple to synchronize the rotation of the cylinders of the unit, a composite rotatable member for each couple including a drive gear and one of the synchronizing gears, a drive shaft at the side of the unit adjacent the synchronizing gears, opposed movable drive gears for each unit operably supported by the shaft, said gears being selectively movable to and from operable engagement with the drive gears of the composite rotatable members to control the direction of rotation of the cylinders of the unit.

15. In a web printing machine including separate printing units, each unit comprising two printing couples and each couple including a rotatable form cylinder and a rotatable impres- -sion cylinder, intermeshing synchronizing gears ders of the couples, a composite rotatable member for each couple including a drive gear and one of the synchronizing gears, a drive shaft common to the separate units and positioned at the side of the machine adjacent the synchronizing gears, opposed drive gears for each unit operably supported by the shaft, said gears being selectively movable to and from operable engagement with the drive gears of the composite rotatable members to drive the printing couples, an idler synchronizing gear operably supported at the side of each unit adjacent the said synchronizing gears, each idler gear being movable to and from meshing engagement with a synchronizing gear of each couple of a unit to control the direction of rotation of one couple of the unit when one of its drive shaft gears is moved from engagement with the drive gear of a selected movable member.

16. A web printing unit including a plurality of printing couples, each couple comprising'a rotatable form cylinder and a rotatable impression cylinder, intermeshing synchronizing gears for operably synchronizing the rotation of the cylinders of the printing couples, a composite rotatable member including a drive gear and one of the synchronizing gears, a drive shaft, a drive gear carried by the drive shaft and meshing directly with the drive gear of the rotatable mem ber, the drive shaft, drive gears and synchronizing gears being located at one side of the printing unit.

17. In a web printing unit including two couples located immediately adjacent each other, each couple-comprisinga rotatable form cylinder and a rotatable impression cylinder, intermeshing synchronizing gears carried by the cylinders atone side of the unit to synchronize the rotation of the cylinders of each couple, a composite rotatable member for each couple including a drive gear and one of the synchronizing gears, a drive shaft at the side of the unit adjacent the synchronizing gears, a drive gear meshing with a drive gear of a rotatable member of each couple and operably supported by the shaft to control the direction of rotation of the rotatable member of each couple and rotate the rotatable members of both couples in synchronism. 7

18. In a web printing unit including two printing couples located immediately adjacent each other, each couple comprising a rotatable form cylinder and a rotatable impression cylinder, synchronizing gears secured to the cylinders at one side of the unit and intermeshing to synchronize the rotation of the cylinders of each couple, a composite rotatable member for each couple including a drive gear and one of the synchronizing gears, a drive shaft at the side of the unit adjacent the synchronizing gears, a movable drive gear for each couple operably supported by the shaft, said gears being selectively movable to and from meshing engagement with the drive Gear of the selected rotatable member to drive the couples, a movable idler synchronizing gear operably supported at the side' of the machine adjacent the said synchronizing gears, the idler gear'being movable from inoperative position to meshing engagement with a synchronizing gear of each couple to control the direction of rotation of one of the couples when one of the shaft drive gears is moved for meshing engagement with the drive gear of a selected movable member.

. FREDERICK LAMATSCH. 

